7 times when jersey number ‘7’ MS Dhoni cleared the stadium with his sheer power

Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his arrival in international cricket in style. Only in his fifth ODI and against India’s arch rivals Pakistan, MS Dhoni played a blistering knock of 148 and that was the start to his international career. Dhoni smacked four huge maximums in his maiden ODI century and showed us a glimpse of what was to follow. It has been over a decade and Dhoni is still going strong and can hit those huge hits at will. One of the reasons why Dhoni was selected in the Indian team was because of his ability to hit big sixes. Let’s have a look at 7 sixes hit by Dhoni which cleared the park. Here we go!

1) Opponent: Australia, Bowler: Brett Lee

Against Australia’s most feared bowler, Brett Lee, MS Dhoni hit this massive six and surprised the right arm pacer. It was right in the slot around the off stump channel and all Dhoni had to do is get a good connection. He did connect it and boy what a hit that was. The Australian team including Brett Lee couldn’t believe but could only watch the ball sailing over the stadium. A clean and powerful strike!

2) Opponent: New Zealand, Bowler: Jeetan Patel

Against off-spinner Jeetan Patel in New Zealand’s own backyard, MS Dhoni shimmied down the wicket and smoked this one over the long-on fence and it nearly hit the commentator’s box. Looking at Dhoni in such prime form, Jeetan Patel did not come back to bowl in that particular match. Patel had 5 overs left with him but the Kiwi skipper thought it wouldn’t be safe to bowl him against Dhoni. That’s a kind of fear that opponent skippers and bowlers have when Dhoni is at his destructive best.

3) Opponent: Mumbai Indians, Bowler: James Franklin

Yet again it was a Kiwi bowler and it was during one of the seasons of the Indian Premier League. James Franklin bowled a length delivery around the off-stump channel and MS Dhoni blasted this one over the cow-corner with brutal power. The ball went over the roof and the umpire had to call for a new one. It was a powerful hit, indeed. Simply, brilliant! Even Ravi Shastri fell short of words to describe this shot hit by MS Dhoni.

4) Opponent: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Bowler: Ravi Rampaul

During the 16th league match of IPL 2013, Chennai Super Kings needed 50 runs in their last 4 overs and this huge six by MS Dhoni kept them alive in the hunt. It was a length delivery outside off and Dhoni gave it a full swing of his bat and connected it to perfection. Ravi Rampaul was at the receiving end and this hit by Dhoni brought the Chennai crowd at Chepauk back to life. In the end, Chennai Super Kings won the match with 1 ball remaining.

5) Opponent: Delhi Daredevils, Bowler: Siddharth Kaul

Against the Daredevils it was a young uncapped bowler who got a taste of Dhoni’s medicine. It was in the slot around off and Dhoni smoked this one over the long on fence and it went over the roof. “This is out of here, it’s on the roof,” said commentator Danny Morrison to describe this huge hit by the Chennai Super Kings’ skipper.

6) Opponent: Sri Lanka, Bowler: Shaminda Eranga

During the Tri-nation series between India, Sri Lanka and West Indies, MS Dhoni played this gem of a knock. India needed 15 runs off the last over and ‘Captain Cool’ chased down the target with two balls to spare. Against Eranga, MS Dhoni hit this length delivery over the long off fence. It went out of the park and eventually India won the final of the tri-nation series by 1 wicket and two balls remaining. This shows the class of MS Dhoni and hit ability to handle pressure in crunch situations.

7) Opponent: Australia, Bowler: James Faulkner

Against James Faulkner, MS Dhoni played his trademark hit, ‘The helicopter shot’. It was a full length delivery as Dhoni brought his trademark shot into play and with ease hit it over the mid-wicket fence, in fact out of the park. Two reasons why this match has become a memorable one for Indian fans is because of Rohit Sharma’s double century and this ‘Helicopter shot’ by MS Dhoni which went out of the park.